Roofing questions, answered

Start by ignoring the word "licensed". Ontario doesn't license roofers; roofer is a voluntary trade here, so it means very little on a lawn sign. What does mean something:

• A current WSIB clearance certificate. You can look it up yourself on the WSIB website in about a minute.
• A certificate of commercial general liability insurance, sent by their broker rather than a photo on a phone.
• An HST number on the quote and a real address in the city. Ours is 2770 Dufferin St in North York.
• Recent Google and HomeStars reviews from people in your part of town.

A roofer who has already done two houses on your street is worth more than any badge.

The classic Toronto one is a knock on the door the morning after a windstorm: "we were working down the street and noticed you're missing shingles." Others to watch for:

• Cash-only pricing, or a discount for skipping the HST.
• A large deposit before any material has been ordered.
• A quote that never mentions tear-off, deck repair or ice and water shield.
• Pressure to sign today, and no WSIB clearance.

If you do sign at your front door or kitchen table, Ontario's Consumer Protection Act gives you 10 days to cancel for any reason.

Mostly because the roofers aren't quoting the same job. On older Toronto houses the variables are big:

• How many layers are coming off. Plenty of pre-war semis in Leslieville, Riverdale and Roncesvalles have two or three.
• Whether the deck is plywood, or the original plank boards that need new sheathing over them.
• How steep the gables are. A Victorian or Edwardian front gable is a very different day from a 1950s North York bungalow.
• Whether the bin fits on a driveway or has to go on the street with a City permit, which is common in the Annex and on most streets south of Bloor.
• How many chimneys, skylights and dormers need new flashing.

A low quote often leaves deck repair as an open-ended extra, or quietly skips the ice and water shield. Compare quotes line by line, not by the bottom number. Our guide to roof replacement costs in Toronto has typical ranges.

• A full tear-off to the deck, and how many layers are coming off.
• A price per sheet for any deck replacement, so rotten plank boards can't turn into a blank cheque.
• Ice and water shield at the eaves (the Ontario Building Code requires eave protection on shingle roofs) and in every valley.
• New drip edge, and new flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights rather than re-used old metal.
• Roof ventilation, so the attic doesn't cook in July and frost up in February.
• The exact shingle and colour, for example IKO Cambridge or IKO Dynasty.
• The bin, any City permits, disposal, clean-up and a nail sweep.
• The workmanship warranty and the manufacturer's warranty, in writing.

Make sure the contract names the shingle, the warranty terms and a start window, and says what happens if rotten decking turns up. The deposit should be reasonable and tied to materials, with the balance due when the job is finished and you've walked the roof with the crew. If your home is designated or sits in a Heritage Conservation District, such as Cabbagetown, Wychwood Park or parts of Rosedale, the heritage permit has to be in hand before anyone climbs a ladder. Our guide to re-roofing a heritage home in Toronto explains how that works.

For a roof on its own, hire a roofer. A general contractor will usually subcontract the roof anyway and add a margin on top. A general contractor makes sense when the roof is part of a bigger project, like a third-storey addition or a rear extension on a semi. In that case we can work alongside your contractor or architect.

Age is the first clue. Asphalt shingles in Toronto usually last about 18 to 25 years, because the freeze–thaw swings every March and November are hard on them. Signs it's time to replace:

• Shingles curling or cracking across the whole roof, not just in one spot.
• Bald patches, and handfuls of granules in the eavestroughs.
• Moss on the north slope under a big maple.
• Leaks in more than one place.

A single leak around a chimney or skylight on an otherwise healthy roof is usually a repair. A no-cost inspection with photos will tell you which you're dealing with.

A typical Toronto semi takes one to two days, and most detached houses two to three, weather permitting. Every section we strip is dried in the same day, so your house is never left open overnight. Work stays within the City of Toronto's noise bylaw hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, from 9 a.m. on Saturdays, and never on Sundays or statutory holidays. September to November is the busiest stretch of the year, so book early if you want the roof done before the snow.

Before tear-off we cover gardens, the A/C unit and walkways, and keep ladders off soft beds. At the end of each day we sweep the property for nails with a magnet. The bin goes on your driveway, or on the street with a City permit if you don't have one. Many older Toronto houses have the hydro wire coming in at the front or side of the roof, and we work around it safely, bringing in Toronto Hydro when the line needs to be covered or moved. Indoors, tear-off is loud and can shake dust loose, so cover anything stored in the attic.

It's one of the most common questions we get in Toronto. On a semi or row house the roof runs straight across the party wall. We finish your side with a proper tie-in along that line: new membrane and flashing where your shingles meet theirs, so water can't track underneath. It's worth a friendly word with your neighbours before we start, both for the noise and because we may need to step onto the edge of their roof. If their roof is also near the end of its life, doing both at once usually costs each household less and gives you one continuous roof.

It depends on the material, the shape of the roof and how hard it is to get at, far more than on square footage. Our guide to roof replacement costs in Toronto sets out typical ranges by material and what moves the price. Every proposal we write is a fixed price after a site visit.

Lifespan and total cost. An asphalt shingle roof lasts about 20 years in Toronto's climate; standing-seam steel lasts 50 or more, and copper far longer. Over a fifty-year horizon, the metal roof is installed once and the shingle roof two or three times, each with its own disruption and disposal. Shingles still cost less up front, which is why we compare the two in shingle vs metal roofing in Ontario.

Payment terms that suit the size of the job. We go through the options with you at the consultation, before you commit to anything.

A deposit secures your place in the schedule and the material order. The rest of the payment schedule is set out in your contract before work starts.

Installation season runs April to November. For a summer or autumn start, begin conversations in late winter. Copper, zinc and some cedar products have longer material lead times, so allow extra time for those. Repairs and emergencies are handled year-round.

Metal can be installed in cold weather with precautions; self-adhered membranes and asphalt products cannot. We schedule accordingly and never compromise adhesion or safety for a date.

Only for the initial consultation and the final walk-through. We send you photo updates while the work is under way.

Yes. We prepare and submit City of Toronto building permits where structural work is involved and heritage permit applications for designated properties, including the drawings and material documentation they require.

Every roof comes with a written workmanship warranty covering leaks and defects arising from our installation, and the manufacturer's warranty covers the materials. The exact terms for your roof are set out in your proposal before you sign.

Yes. We carry commercial general liability insurance and WSIB coverage, and we provide the certificates on request.

Home insurance in Ontario generally covers sudden damage, like shingles torn off in a windstorm off the lake or a branch through the roof. It doesn't cover wear and tear, or an old roof that finally gives out. After a storm:

1. Photograph the damage from the ground.
2. Get it tarped so it doesn't get worse; insurers expect you to.
3. Call your insurer before any permanent repair.

We provide a dated photo report and a written estimate your adjuster can work from. See our guide to storm damage and insurance in Ontario.

Often. Many Ontario insurers offer premium reductions for Class A fire-rated and impact-resistant roofing, and for roofs under 10 years old. We provide the documentation your broker needs.